Folding chair



June 2 1927- J, v. YOUNG FOLDING CHAIR Filed Aug. 8, 1923 Patented June28, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES V. YOUNG, OF RUSHVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOB TO THE STANDARD MANUFAC-TURING COMPANY, OF CAMBRIDGE CITY, INDIANA,'A CORPORATION OF INDIANA.

FOLDING CHAIR.

Application filed August 8, 1923. Serial N0. 656,898.

The object of this invention, broadly speaking, is to provide a foldingchair which is simple in character, strong and durable in construction,light in weight, easily operated, will occupy but a minimum amount ofspace when folded, will not inadvertently tip or collapse, and which canbe manufactured and sold at a comparatively low price.

More specifically stated my object is to provide a foldable chaircomprising a minimum number of parts, comprising a back which isintegrally connected with the front legs, having a seat pivoted at itsrear portion and having rear legs rigidly connected together and whichare pivoted to members of the back and so mounted that they areautomatically projected back into operative position as the seat assumessubstantially horizontal position and which will automatically fold inparallel with the front legs as the seat assumes its folded positionparallel with the back, and to provide means whereby the seat whenextended is at a higher elevation than is usual With folding chairs.

Other objects and particular advantages of the invention will suggestthemselves in the course of the following description.

The preferred means for carrying out the principles of my invention in apractical and an efficient manner is shown in the accompanying drawings,in which-Figure 1 is a perspective rear view of a chair opened out andconstructed in accordance with my invention. Figure 2 is an ed e view ofmy chair in folded condition.- Figure 3 is a fragmentary view, partly insection, show-' ing the underside of a portion of the seat, and showingparts adjacent thereto. Fi ure 4 is a cross section of one'of the rearegs, showing the sliding pivot member which is operative in connectiontherewith. Figure 5 is a perspective View of the sliding pivot memberalone And Figure 6 shows one of the sliding pivot members in elevation.

Similar indices denote like parts throughout. the several views. Inorder that the construction, the arrangement, and the advantages of theinvention ma be more fully understood and a preciate I will now take upa detaile which I will set forth the same as fully and as briefly as Imay.

Referring now to the drawings in detail:

Numerals 1 and 2 denote the two main mom-- description thereof in bers,the upper portions of which form the side elements or standards of theback, and the lower portions form the front legs. Said members areidentical with each other and they are perfectly straight and'of thesame size throughout.

The back proper comprises the cross members 3 and 4 which are spacedapart and rigidly connected to the upper portions of the members 1 and2. Said members 3 and 4 are spaced apart parallel with each other, andthey are connected by a plurality of spindles 5, whichcompletes theback.

The members 1 and 2 are further connected by the rung 6 located near thelower ends of said members 1 and 2.

Numerals 7 and 8 denote the rear legs, whose upper ends are pivoted nearthe rear edges of the respective members land 2 by means of the rivets 9and 10, the same being located a short distance above the centers of therespective members 1 and 2. The outer faces of the legs 7 and 8 are incontact with the inner faces of the members 1 and 2, whereby they maybe' turned inward parallel therewith, as in Fig. 2 or they may be turnedoutward at an angle thereto, as in Fig. 1. The lower portions of thelegs 7 and 8 are connected by the rung 11. Formed in the inner faces ofthe legs 7 and 8, and extendin longitudinall thereof, are channels. 12an 13, respective y, the length of said channels depending on the limitsof movement of the seat, as will hereinafter be described.

The seat comprises a frame 14, which is substantially square, and itincloses the slats central portions of the members 1 and 2,

being riveted at its outer ends against the outer faces of the members 1and 2, as shown.

A short distance rearward of the rod 16 the corner portions of the seat,that is to say, the outer rear portions of the side members of the frame14, are cut away forming the notches 17 and 18, whose depths areslightly more than is the thickness of the leg; 7 and 8 over. which theylap.

wo sliding ivot members are provided,

each consists o a plate portion 19 having a screw aperture 20 formedthrough its center, to receive a screw 23. The width of said plates issubstantially equal to the thickness of the side members of the frame14. Flanges 21 and 22 vproject inward from the respective u per andlower edges of the plates 19. xtendin upward from the longitudinalcenter of t e flanges 21 and flush with the outer faces of the plates19, are the hangers 24. And extendin out from the hangers 24 is a pivot25 w ich is at right ang es to the plates 19,'and it rojects opposite tothe flanges 21 and 22, .all substant1ally as shown in Figures 5 and 6.All of the parts 19, 21, 22, 24 and 25 are integral with each other.

One of said sliding pivot members is secured in each of the notches 17and 18, with the plates 19 contacting with the edges of the side membersof the frame 14, and with the flanges 21 and 22 engaging the top andbottom surfaces, respectively, of the side members of the frame, and thepivots 25 fitting slidably in the channels 12 and 13.

Said sliding pivot members are rigidly secured to the seat, each by ascrew 23, which is run through the apertures 20 and are driven into the'rame 14.

It will now be seen that the chair may beotpened out into operativecondition, with t e legs resting on a floor or other surface, thenappearing substantially as shown in Fig. 1. In the "Rim it is evidentthat the pivots 25 will be at their limits of movements in the upperends of the channels 12 and 13, which will prevent the rear end of theseat from raising, while the forward portion of the seat Wlllbesupported by the rod 16, thereb reventing the seat from turning downwarlow horizontal position re ard ess of the weight laced thereon.

ow-in order to fold vt e chair one has only to turn the seat upward,which of course will force the pivots 25 downward in their channels 12and 13, and by which as the seat reaches its upward limit parallel withand between the upper portions of the members 1 and 2 the legs 7 and 8will automatically be forced forward causing them to enter between thelower portions of the members 1 and 2 and arallel therewith, which willcause the chair to appear as in and Fig. 2, whereby its thickness willbe no greater than the width of the members 1 and 2, which of coursewill be the minimum of itscollapsibilit It will be noted that the rearlegs 7-8 are pivoted to the front legs beneath the back, which back isrigidly carried by the front legs.- It will also be noted that the ;rearend of the seat extends to and between the rear legs and that the lowerend of the back is spaced from said seat. There are decided advantagesfor this specific arrangement. In the first place, the rear legs areshort and are not only stronger, but less material is necessary than ifthey extended above the lower end of the back and were pivoted to theupper end portions of the ont legs nearer. Moreover the rear end of theseat bein located below and extending rearwardly eyond the back, it isthus brought rearwardly and makes a more compact structure, therebyoccupying less 'space when opened, while its entire area to itsconnection with the back legs is effective for use.

From the above it will be seen that the two predominant features of mychair is its maximum strength and its minimum of collapsi- 1 bility.

I desire that it be understood that various changes may be made in theseveral details of the construction herein shown without departing fromthe spirit of the invention and without sacrificing any of the advantaes thereof which are new and useful.

aving now fully shown and described my invention, what I claim anddesire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-' A foldingchair com rising spaced front legs, a back fixed to an between the upperend portions of said front legs, rear legs having their upper endsbetween the front legs and pivoted to said front legs beneath the lowerend of the back a seat extending between the front legs pivoted betweenits front and rear ends to the front legs below'the back and below thepivotal connection of the rear legs with the front legs, the main bodyof sand seat extending between the rear legs and having slidinginterlocking connections withsaid rear legs, said seat body when inoperative position bein spaced below the lower end of the back etweenthe rear legs.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name to this secification.

S V. YOUNG.

